BAY CITY, MI – A $150,000 study funded by Michigan Sea Grant is set to unfold over the next two years, examining in detail the muck issues prevalent along the shores of the Bay City State Recreation Area.

Far from being impressed, though, many MLive readers responded with skepticism that more research is necessary.

Led by Donna Kashian, a professor of ecology at Wayne State University, the study will look at the biological, economic and social dimensions of the beach muck issue and move toward finding a solution for the problem, drawing on researchers from multiple universities and support from a number of agencies. She said the study will examine previously completed research in the beach area as well as rely on a public survey.

Jason Duvall, an environmental psychologist and lecturer at the University of Michigan, said that a separate $50,000 study financed by the University of Michigan Water Center will also complement the study, drawing both on a survey distributed to experts on muck-related issues as well as extended interviews with members of the public.

Despite the news of a new study, many MlLive readers said they feel the issue is already pretty well understood already.

"Why do we need a study and waste more money and time churning over this. How about if ya wanna make a nice park and beach clean it up and maintain it. Let's find the sources and stop it for once.... We don't need no more of these glorified studies."

MLive commenter thewarden feels that studying the beach and muck issues is turning into a tired habit:

"It's been that way for my 40+ years. Let's study why we keep studying it."

Obamahatesyou feels that state agencies are far too protective of the environment along the beach:

"The tree huggers (and the DEQ and DNR) think some weeds are more important than an enjoyable beach and economic development."

A number of commenters also had their own theories on what causes the muck in the beach area, citing local pollution and sewage. MLive commenter ws12 said he feels fertilizers are a big problem:

"The biggest thing that changed in that time was the proliferation of phosphorous fertilizers. I think what is happening is the phosphorous causes algal blooms once it hits the warm, shallow bay waters, then later when it washes up on the beach and starts to rot, it starts to stink. The e-coli from farms and sewage releases don't help but I personally do not believe they are a major contributing factor to the muck in and of itself."

Fungry wrote that although he feels the beach muck problem causes are clear — fertilizer runoff and sewage — he said that those root problems need to be solved first.

"A clean up of the beach would be a total waste of tax paying funds if they do not fix where the problems first occur."

Kashian said she is aware of current talks between Bay County and the DNR to take action against muck in the area and acknowledged that some might not see a need for a study. However, she said the issue isn't fully understood yet.

"We still don't know what muck is. At different months, it's composed of different species," she said, from green algae to vascular plants.

While many people want action on the issue, she added, there's still a lot to know and explore about the nuances of the problem itself.

Where do you stand on the issue? Is another study necessary for understanding the problem, or should leaders take action right away to groom the beach? Should the beach even be groomed at all?

Make sure to take our poll above and join in the discussion in the comments below.

—Sam Easter is a general assignment reporter for The Bay City Times. He can be reached at seaster@mlive.com.